3.25pm: It learnt that Mohd Nizar will announce his refusal to resign as requested by the sultan.

3.20pm All top Pakatan leaders are in a meeting at Mohd Nizar’s official residence to chart their next course of action. A press conference is expected to be held soon. Notable absentees are Kedah MB Azizan Razak and Kelantan MB Niz Aziz Nik Mat.

About 30 supporters have gathered outside the residence. A big team of some 50 journalists are also waiting there.

3pm: The office of the Sultan of Perak, in a statement, said that after meeting all the 28 BN assemblypersons and the three independents, the sultan was convinced that Mohd Nizar had ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the state assembly members.

“If YAB Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin does not resign his post as Perak menteri besar together with the members of the state executive council, the posts of menteri besar and state executive councillors are considered vacant,” the statement said.

2.40pm: The five Indian state representatives in Perak – A Sivasubramaniam (DAP-Buntong), V Sivakumar (DAP-Tronoh), Keshvinder Singh (DAP-Malim Nawar), S Kesavan (PKR-Hutan Melintang) and A Sivanesan (DAP-Sungkai) – held a press conference earlier today that they would remain loyal to Pakatan Rakyat.

Speaker Sivakumar said that various approaches were made to entice them to cross over to BN.

“We were offered money and high posts in party (MIC) and government but we rejected the advances of these people,” he said.

2.27pm: Bernama reports that the Sultan of Perak has rejected the request by Mohd Nizar for the dissolution of the state assembly. The report also said that the sultan has asked Mohd Nizar to step down to pave the way for a power transfer.

2.14pm: Tonight’s 100,000 people gathering in support of the Pakatan government has been shifted to Stadium Ipoh from the menteri besar’s official residence.

The police have issued warnings against those who take part in “illegal gatherings” in Ipoh.

1.22pm: Anwar arrives at Mohd Nizar’s house. He is expected to hold a press conference together the menteri besar and Penang CM Lim Guan Eng at 3pm. PKR vice-president Azmin Ali is also there.

1.32pm: A PKR source says that the sultan had asked Mohd Nizar to step down as menteri besar to allow a smooth tr